Clemson Scientists Tie Gravity to Gecko’s Grip

Clemson, SC-Researchers at Clemson University found gravity triggers the ability of geckos to grip even the slickest of surfaces.  A release from the University credits evolutionary biologists Anthony Russell of Calgary and Timothy Higham of Clemson with discovering what causes geckos to deploy their grip.
Clemson says scientists knew how geckos attached themselves to surfaces but did not know what caused them to apply their grips.  A paper published by Higham and Russell explains how the design on the gecko’s toes enables an electric force that attracts molecules to each other to supply the energy to hold a gecko to a surface.